4 ms·
Again, OP is claiming that the property of 'smallness' is a causative factor to increased life expectancy. This is a way more dubious claim than calories being
by jamesrom 9y ago
Again, OP is claiming that the property of 'smallness' is a causative factor to increased life expectancy. This is a way more dubious claim than calories being a causative factor.
For example, birds are the opposite: larger birds generally live longer than smaller birds.
Actually, the more I think about it, it's the same with lizards. And primates and most mammals. And pretty much every species besides a small subset of domestic canines that have undergone artificial selection in the past millennia.
- pacaro 9y agoYeah, I suspect that with dogs that overbreeding is a bigger issue. We have a Bernese Mountain Dog, they don't have a good health profile, for example all the "large chested breeds" are at risk of "bloat" or gastric torsion. If this isn't caught quickly then it's fatal (blood supply to the stomach is interrupted). This is something that happens through artificial selection for size, i suspect that it is rare in wolves.
- eco 9y agoMany reptiles are indeterminate growers (meaning they'll keep growing as long as long as they are alive) so of course the largest ones live the longest. Birds and mammals, however, pretty much all have determinate growth as far as I know.
- vacri 9y agoSimilarly, humans are getting more long-lived and taller at the same time.